Laurels Are Poison is a 1942 mystery detective novel by the British writer Gladys Mitchell.

[5] It introduced the character of Laura Menzies who became recurring assistant of Mrs Bradley in subsequent novels.

In 2000 it was adapted for an episode of the television series The Mrs Bradley Mysteries starring Diana Rigg.

Mrs Bradley arrives at a women's teacher training college to take up a post vacated when the previous occupant disappears at the end of term dance.

But soon a series of often violent practical jokes lead to suspicions that there is a fugitive lurking somewhere in the grounds of the college.